Who are we, what is the background to this project, and how is it funded?

Natalya Vince

This project is designed and coordinated by Natalya Vince, Reader in North African and French Area Studies at the University of Portsmouth in the UK. She has been doing oral history in Algeria since 2005, when she began her PhD research at the University of London on women who participated in the Algerian War of Independence.

In 2015, the book of her thesis was published with Manchester University Press as Our Fighting Sisters: Nation, Memory and Gender in Algeria, 1954-2012, with the support of an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Early Career Fellowship (AH/J004677/1). Since then, she has been working on a project, funded by the European Union Commission Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) scheme on “Students, social change and the construction of the post-independence Algerian state, 1962-1978” (STUSOCSTA/ 705763).

The MSCA scheme funds research in which the topic is freely chosen by the academic researcher. This specific documentary series has emerged from both of these projects and the costs of filming, editing, subtitling, artwork and web design are funded by the AHRC Follow on Funding for Engagement and Impact Scheme (AH/S013172/1) The AHRC is a public body which provides funding for research in the arts and humanities.

Walid Benkhaled

Director, cameraman, sound engineer and editor. His is a documentary filmmaker, production manager and lecturer in film at the University of Portsmouth. He is currently working on a documentary, provisionally entitled In the Frame, about the relationship between politics and culture in his home town of Bordj Bou Arreridj.

Hichem Gaoua

Better known as El Moustach/الموسطاش, is a contemporary Algerian artist who explores Algerian history, politics, society and culture through pop art. His work has been exhibited in London and Algiers. He also teaches graphic design in Algiers. You can follow him on Facebook

Amine Dahmane

Better known as La feuille et moi/ أنا و الورقة, is a contemporary Algerian artist who uses mixed media and animation to engage with questions about the Algerian past, present and future. You can follow him on Facebook

Translating team

   Composed of Yousef Barahmeh, Camille Jacob and Imene Medfouni who are PhD students of the University of Portsmouth.

Yousef Barahmeh is currently working on a PhD on the politics of Jordanian humour.

Camille Jacob was awarded her PhD in 2019, for a thesis on the discourses and practices of English in Algeria (funded by an AHRC Collaborative    Doctoral Award).

Imene Medfouni is working on English as a medium of instruction in Algerian higher education.